A summer workation used to be a hard sell to HR departments. Now most remote-friendly companies actively encourage it. Work from somewhere sunny, get your stuff done, come back recharged. The logic is simple enough.
We’ve sent team members and helped clients set up summer workation bases in dozens of destinations over the years. Some were great. Some were disasters. This is what we’d actually recommend for 2026.
Valencia, Spain: our top summer workation pick
Valencia has quietly become the workation capital of Europe. The city has everything: fast fibre internet, affordable co-working, great food, and beaches within cycling distance. The weather from June through September is reliably hot and sunny without the heavy humidity you get in Southeast Asia. Check Coworker.com for updated co-working listings.
WiFi reliability is excellent. Most cafes and all co-working spaces run fibre. Budget €1,500-2,200/month for a decent apartment, co-working from €150/month. If you need visa info, see our digital nomad visa guide.
Split, Croatia
Split offers something Valencia doesn’t: the feeling of working inside a Roman palace. The old town is a UNESCO site built into the remains of Diocletian’s Palace. The Adriatic is clear and warm. And the digital infrastructure has caught up with the scenery over the last two years.
WiFi is good, much improved recently. Budget €1,200-1,800/month for accommodation, co-working from €120/month.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife has been a summer workation destination for years, and it keeps improving. The Canaries give you European infrastructure, African weather, and a timezone that works for both European and American clients. The co-living scene has come a long way.
WiFi is very good. Most co-living spaces offer 500+ Mbps. Budget €1,000-1,600/month, with co-living options from €600/month that include workspace.
Koh Phangan, Thailand
If you want tropical scenery with your workstation, Koh Phangan has evolved from party island to legitimate nomad hub. The jungle interior is dotted with co-working spaces, the beaches are gorgeous, and the cost of living lets you live well on modest income.
WiFi is good in co-working spaces and modern cafes, but variable in budget accommodation. Budget €600-1,000/month for a comfortable villa, with meals from €3.
Medellín, Colombia
For anyone working with US clients, Medellín’s time zone alignment is hard to beat. The city sits at elevation, so despite being near the equator, the climate feels like permanent spring. The nomad community is large, the food is good, and your money stretches.
WiFi is excellent in the El Poblado and Laureles neighbourhoods. Budget €800-1,300/month, co-working from €80/month.
Before you book your summer workation
A few things that will save you grief.
Test the WiFi before you commit to accommodation. Ask the host to run a speed test over video call. “Fast WiFi” means different things to different people.
Check your time zone overlap with clients before choosing a destination. A gorgeous beach is meaningless if you’re on calls at 3am.
Get travel insurance that explicitly covers remote work equipment. SafetyWing is popular with nomads for a reason, but read the fine print on electronics coverage.
And be realistic about the summer workation balance. Trying to do a full 8-hour day and then explore a new city every evening leads to exhaustion, not balance. Pick your hours and stick to them.
